Modern Greek For Dummies (eBook)

Eirini Argyrouli (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025
436 Seiten
For Dummies (Verlag)
978-1-394-34275-4 (ISBN)

Infos

Everything you need to speak Greek quickly and confidently

Modern Greek For Dummies teaches you everything you need to start speaking Greek. This friendly guide provides clear explanations of grammar and authentic phrases and dialogues, so you can start communicating in Greek-speaking communities right away. Examples and exercises help you work your way through the alphabet and basic constructions, toward conversational fluency. Online audio files help you master your pronunciation. Along the way, you'll find fun and entertaining facts about Greek culture and history. Proceed at your own pace and learn to speak Greek with friends, family, and colleagues.

• Get hands-on practice learning the Greek alphabet, grammar, and vocabulary
• Learn everyday phrases that you can use as you travel and work in Greece and Cyprus
• Bring the language to life as you explore the culture of modern Greece
• Access audio files to help as you practice your inflection and intonation

Modern Greek For Dummies is a great choice for complete beginners as well as those who want to brush up their existing Greek skills.

Eirini Argyrouli is a Greek language teacher and the founder of the Greek Learning Hub, an international, virtual Greek language school. She has many years of experience teaching students the Greek language.

Textauszug

Chapter 1

Greek in a Nutshell

IN THIS CHAPTER

Getting a glimpse of the Greek alphabet

Introducing Greek grammar and expressions

Speaking Greek in various circumstances

This chapter gives you a sample of some of the topics and vocabulary you’ll encounter in the rest of the book. It’s like dipping your finger into a jar of honey — and in this case, the honey is the Greek language itself.

Introducing the Basics

A few topics are essential as you begin learning Greek: the alphabet, grammar, useful expressions, and numbers, among others. The following sections give you the scoop on basic Greek.

The Greek alphabet

Check out this list: Α, Β, Ε, Ι, Κ, Μ, Ν, Ο, Τ.

Do you recognize these letters? They’re some of the letters in the Greek alphabet. So, we’re off to a good start! Are there more? Of course! The Greek alphabet has 24 letters waiting for you to discover them. And some of them might be completely unfamiliar to you: Take for example the letter Ξ, which sounds like “x,” or the letter Π, which sounds like “p.” Have you seen those before?

If you’re eager to begin learning Greek, you don’t have to wait long. Chapter 2 dives right into the Greek letters. After you complete that chapter, you’ll be able to recognize any Greek text.

Basic and not-so-basic grammar

After introducing you to the Greek alphabet in Chapter 2, I guide you through simple grammar topics in Chapters 3 and 4. The reason grammar is important and is placed at the beginning of this book is because by understanding how basic grammar works, you’ll be able to create correct sentences — so you can speak, express what you want to say, and be understood by your conversation partner.

It’s different, for example, to say:

• Εμείς πήγαμε στο μουσείο. (e-mees pee-ga-me sto moo-see-o) (We went to the museum.)
• Εγώ πηγαίνω στο μουσείο. (e-go pee-ye-no sto moo-see-o) (I’m going to the museum.)
• Εσύ δεν πήγες στο μουσείο. (e-see den pee-yes sto moo-see-o) (You didn’t go to the museum.)

Each of these sentences, even though they seem quite similar, gives different information about a visit to the museum. To adjust a sentence to say exactly what you want, you need to know at least basic grammar. If you don’t know it already, I’d recommend studying Chapters 3 and 4 fairly early on.

Useful expressions

In Chapter 5, I provide you with the most essential expressions — those you can use during your first visit to Greece (and beyond!). These are, after all, the first phrases one learns when picking up any new language. For example:

• καλημέρα (ka-lee-me-ra) (good morning)
• γεια (ya) (hi, hello)
• Τι κάνεις; (tee ka-nees) (How are you?)
• Πώς σε λένε; (pos se le-ne) (What’s your name?)
• Από πού είσαι; (a-po poo ee-se) (Where are you from?)
• ναι (ne) (yes)
• όχι (o-hee) (no)
• ευχαριστώ (ef-kha-ree-sto) (thank you)

In Chapter 5, I also give you words and phrases that help you talk more about yourself in Greek. That way, you learn vocabulary for εθνικότητες (e-thnee-ko-tee-tes) (nationalities), επαγγέλματα (e-pa-ge-lma-ta) (professions), and οικογένεια (ee-ko-ye-nee-a) (family).

Building your vocabulary alongside grammar while learning a language is extremely important. Personally, I believe languages should be learned holistically, meaning that all aspects should develop together: grammar, vocabulary, writing, reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. This book has been designed to offer you just that.

Numbers, dates, and measurements

Want to count your money?

Say a date?

Weigh fruit at the greengrocer?

All of these tasks require knowing numbers. In Chapter 6, I teach you the numbers from 0 to 1,000 — the ones you need for everyday conversations. But since you might be eager, I go ahead and share the numbers from 1 to 10 here:

• 1 — ένα (e-na)
• 2 — δύο (dee-o)
• 3 — τρία (tree-a)
• 4 — τέσσερα (te-se-ra)
• 5 — πέντε (pe-nde)
• 6 — έξι (e-ksee)
• 7 — επτά (e-pta)
• 8 — οκτώ (o-kto)
• 9 — εννιά (e-nya)
• 10 — δέκα (de-ka)

The ancient Greeks were among the first civilizations to develop mathematical thinking, and some of the earliest mathematicians have gone down in history — you may have heard of Pythagoras or Archimedes.

Greek at home

Our home is the place where most of us spend the majority of our time. It’s where we have our daily rituals and habits, where we relax, work, and create. So, expanding the vocabulary related to the world around us, Chapter 7 talks about our daily routine as well as the home and its furnishings.

Putting Greek into Action

In Part 2 of this book, you learn Greek that helps you in your everyday life in Greece — whether as a tourist or a more permanent resident. It covers a range of essential topics you need to speak in shops, on public transportation, at work, or even during a visit to the doctor.

Going places

When visiting a new city, you definitely need to get around. You might use the αυτοκίνητο (af-to-kee-nee-to) (car), λεωφορείο (le-o-fo-ree-o) (bus), τρένο (tre-no) (train), or another means of transportation. You may also need to ask someone for directions:

• Πού είναι η Ακρόπολη; (poo ee-ne ee a-kro-po-lee) (Where is the Acropolis?)
• Πού είναι το κέντρο; (poo ee-ne to ke-dro) (Where is the center?)

And you need to understand the directions they give you:

• ∑τρίψε δεξιά. (stree-pse de-ksee-a) (Turn right.)
• ∑τρίψε αριστερά. (stree-pse a-ree-ste-ra) (Turn left.)
• Προχώρα ευθεία. (pro-kho-ra ef-thee-a) (Go straight.)

Check out Chapter 8 for more information about getting around Greece.

Shopping

Chances are that during your trip to Greece, you won’t skip visiting some local shops for clothing, souvenirs, or groceries. You may have questions:

• How do you ask for the right clothing size?
• How do you ask for a discount?
• How do you find things and shop at the supermarket?

A quick look through Chapter 9 answers all your questions.

Dining and entertainment

Do you prefer a ταβέρνα (ta-ve-rna) (tavern) or an εστιατόριο (e-stee-a-to-ree-o) (restaurant)? And what are the differences between them? Would you like ζάχαρη (za-kha-ree) (sugar) and γάλα (ga-la) (milk) in your καφές (ka-fes) (coffee)? Do you want a χορτοφαγικό μενού...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 13.10.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Schulbuch / Wörterbuch ► Wörterbuch / Fremdsprachen
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Sprachwissenschaft
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: beginning Greek • Greek • Greek alphabet • greek grammar • Greek language • greek language book • Greek phrases • Greek workbook • learn greek • learn greek for beginners • learn modern Greek • Modern Greek • modern Greek language • teach yourself greek
• ISBN-10: 1-394-34275-6 / 1394342756
• ISBN-13: 978-1-394-34275-4 / 9781394342754